Combined stabilizer and anchor cord holder for duck decoys



Feb. 6, 1945. F HlGGlNs 2,368,834

COMBINED STABILIZER AND ANCHOR CORD HOLDER FOR DUCK DECOYS Filed Feb. 9. 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor (am flaw E M1 Feb. 6, 1945. F H, .Ns 2,368,834

COMBINED STABILIZER AND ANCHOR CORD HOLDER FOR DUCK DECOYS Filed Feb. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 54 0% fiyfms Attorneys Patented Feb. 6, 1945 ooivmmnn-s'ranmlznn nnnanonon HOLDEKFORDUGK pnoors- Frank Higgins, Princeton, n1.

ApplicationaFebruary 9, 1e44,, Serial No": 521,694.

v 3 Claims. My'invention. relates to improvements in com"- bination. stabilizers. and. anchor cord holders; for decoy," ducks: and. the like,.'the'= principal object in; view-being to provide: a simply; constructed,

- strong, easily' applied. deviceacting as! a. counterweight to :stabilizethe decoy-in the water,or" as a. rest. for maintaining the: decoy upright on; ice or. ground, and. which is adapted for easy at tachment of an: anchor cord thereto when an Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended-by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with the drawings accompanying and forming part of this speci-. fication. v

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved stabilizer and anchor cord holder applied and illustrating the manner in which the anchor cord is attached when the anchor is in use,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in bottom plan drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating the manner in which the anchor cord is wrapped or wound on the stabilizer when the anchor is not in use, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the basic element of my improved stabilizer and anchor cord holder is a. substantially'diamondshaped frame I provided with a pair of front and rear straight extensions 2, 3. The frame I and the extensions 2, 3 are formed of a single, continuous piece of rod-like metal, such as a wire hoop, bent upon itself, said extensions each comprising double lengths of the material engaged side by side and disposed in a common plane with the frame I at opposite corners thereof The extensions 2, 3 are extended through lower barrel-like end keepers 4, 5 on a pair of front and rear T-shaped brackets 6, 1 secured to the. bottom of the decoy duck 8 by screws 9 and spaced apart longitudinally of the decoy 8 in the median plane thereof with said keepers 4,35 depending well below the bottom of the decoy and disposed endwiselongitudinally' of said decoy. As best shown in Figure 4, the keepers 4, 5 are substantially oval in cross section and arranged with their longer axes transversely of the decoy and the extensions 2, 3 are fitted tightly in said keepers so. thiztt-v the'frame I is maintained in: a horizontallydisposed position when the.- decoy is As; be'stlshowrr inll'igure. 2; the: frame is isntte'd' between. the keepers 4,1 5' against" end play therebetween and the extensions 2,. 3 project; forwardly and: rearwardly'of the keepers 4,

5: The: purpose of. the" projecting. endsof. the

extensions lg 3 wilipresent appear. The brackets: 6,. 1 may be inexpensively constructed? of a single piece-of strap'metal bent upon itself,. as shownin': Figure 4. I I The anchor cord l 0 is-1ooped around: thestem of: the front' bracket, G andunderthe; projecting end. of. the front extension 2 and. tied, as best shown in Figure 2 at H and may be adjusted to the desired length when the anchor I2 is in use by securing the intermediate portion of the cord to the projecting end of the front extension 2 with a half hitch formed in the cord at a point depending upon the length of anchor cord to be used. When the anchor I2 and cord IO'are in use. as when the decoy is anchored in the water, the frame I, extensions 2, 3 and the brackets 4 5 all act as counterweights to maintain the decoy upright in the water. When the decoy 8 is used on ice or ground, or stored, the .anchor cord I0 .is wrapped around the stems of the brackets 6, I

between the decoy and the frame I and extensions ,2, as best shown in Figure 3, and the anchor is suspended from within the frame I. When the anchor cordis thus wrapped, the frame I and the projecting end portions of the extensions 2, 3

serve to form with the brackets 6, I a cleat-like structure on which the wrapped anchor cord is securely confined against displacement therefrom and said anchor; cord is hidden from the view of ducks, or other fowl, being decoyed, by

the body of the decoy when the latter is used either on ice or upon the ground.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, s described, is sus- I ceptible of modification without departing from r tudinal center of the decoy, and a rod-like frame of substantially diamond form interposed between said keepers to lie in a plane parallel with the horizontal plane of the decoy and provided with a pair of extensions at opposite corners thereof fitted in said keepers, respectively, and

extending forwardly and rearwardly out of the same, respectively, said brackets, frame and extensions forming a cleat-like counterweight structure for maintaining the decoy upright in water, and functioning as a stand for maintaining the decoy upright on ice or land, and an anchor cord secured at one end to the front bracket for wrapping when not in use around said brackets between the decoy and said frame and extensions.

one end to the front bracket for wrapping when not in use around said brackets between the decoy and said frame and extensions, said frame and extensions being formed of a single piece of rod-like metal bent upon itself, said keepers being oval in cross section and said extensions comprising double parallel lengths of the rod-like material fitted in said keepers to maintain the extensions and frame stationary relative to the decoy.

'3. A combined stabilizer and anchor cord holder for a decoy 'duck comprising a pair of front and rear brackets adapted to be secured to 2. A combined stabilizer and anchor cord holder for a decoy duck comprising a pair of front and j rear brackets adapted to be secured to the bottom of said decoy to depend therefrom and including a pair of front and rear lower endkeepers of barrel formaligned in the longitudinal center of the dec0y, and a rod-likeframe of substantially diamond form interposed between said keepers to lie in a plane parallel with the horizontal plane of the decoy and provided with a pair of extensions at opposite corners thereof fitted in said keepers, respectively, and extending forwardly and rearwardly out of the same, respectively, said brackets, frame and extensions forming a cleat-like counterweight structure for main taining the decoy upright in water, and function in as a stand for maintaining the decoy upright on ice or land, and an anchor cord secured at i the bottom of said decoy to depend therefrom and including a pair of front and rear lower end keepers of barrel form aligned in the longitudinal center of the decoy, and a rod-like frame of substantially diamond form interposed betweensaidkeepers to lie in a plane parallel with the horizontal plane of the decoy and provided with FRANK I-lIGGINS. 

